Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails. According to the brand, it's "best served in a snifter, allowing for full appreciation of its flavors, aroma, and velvety finish.". What would normally be a rich liquid with barrel-aged flavors is actually light, floral, and sweet, with flavors of honey and butterscotch. ), tequila has assumed quite the party-drink reputation. Reserva 44, Avión's "bespoke" extra añejo, is aged for 43 months in oak barrels and then aged for an additional month in specially selected "petite" barrels, which are rotated daily. "It grew in popularity, driving refinement, and a few pioneer brands have successfully positioned high-end tequila on par with Scotch and Cognac in terms of sipping appeal, especially in the añejo category. Clase Azul Extra Anejo is another one of the greatest expensive tequila brands. It's then aged for a minimum of three years in new American and French oak barrels. Its ridiculous smoothness will leave you wanting another sip tout de suite. It must be made in several regions of Mexico, mostly surrounding the town of Tequila, including Jalisco Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas. At $299, this isn't something you're going to shoot or mix in a margarita. Wine is fine. Each bottle of Clase Azul is its own work of art, hand-painted and hand-sculpted. Facts Every Tequila Aficionado Needs to Know, 12 Things Every Tequila Aficionado Needs to Know, 10 Rare Bourbons You'll Want to Get Your Hands on Immediately. At an estimated 3.5 million US dollars Tequila Ley .925 Diamante is the most expensive tequila in the world. Ranker may collect a commission from links on this page. Riazul's Añejo tequila is distilled twice and then aged for two years in Cognac barrels. It garners a robust flavor that can hold its own against mixing from a 12-15 month aging in oak barrels and a subtle sweetness from baked agave. Reserva de la Familia was the world’s first extra-añejo tequila, and it's aged for a minimum of three years in French and American oak barrels. The system, Qui says, was created to eliminate the harsh alcohol smell some tequilas have, along with the harsh burn typically found on the finish of tequila (know as the "raspa") in Mexico. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. This extra… It's made completely from estate-grown blue agave in Tequila, Mexico, and the brand's maestro tequilero finishes each bottle by balancing the majority of unaged platinum tequila with a hint of ultra-aged extra añejo (the result is known as a "Joven" tequila). Vote up the top, most reliable High End Tequila companies. Hornitos tequila is a standard mid-shelf bottle, a great buy for any casual occasion where you aren't looking to spend much but don't want to sacrifice taste. The best expensive tequila brands are made with different methods, but they all pack a tasty punch. Qui is the world's first platinum (clear) extra-añejo. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 12 Spiked Eggnog Recipes for Your Next Party, Holiday Cocktails to Drink This Christmas, Halloween Cocktails That Are Scarily Delicious, These NYC Christmas Bars Will Keep You Merry, Tears of Llorona No. Tequila: A type of mezcal made using at least 51 percent of the sugars of the blue agave, which is cooked, shredded or mashed, fermented, double distilled, and then, in some cases, aged in barrels. List RulesVote up the top, most reliable High End Tequila companies. Agaves harvested in the lowlands, on the other hand, have a more herbaceous fragrance and flavor. The unique barrels, made from wood indigenous to a forest in burgundy noted for naturally ingrained vanilla tannins, separate this tequila from the rest of the bunch. Agave tequila grows differently depending on the region. april fools pranks to play on your siblings. These bottles are meant to be savored one sip at a time. It's aged for a minimum of four years in American white oak casks that formerly held Kentucky bourbon, and the resulting liquid has aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, and citrus. Clase Azul Extra Anejo is another one of the greatest expensive tequila brands. George Clooney and Rande Gerber started Casamigos based on their love of sharing tequila at their neighboring houses in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The red volcanic soil in the surrounding region is particularly well suited to the growing of the blue agave, and more than 300 million of the plants are harvested there each year. Its name commemorates the year Don Julio González opened his first tequila distillery. While it's only "rested" for eight months (in used American oak barrels) after the distillation process, it's got a rich, sweet flavor and drinks as if it's been aged as long as something much older. The resulting juice is then fermented and distilled along with crushed agave fiber. Inside the bottle is a mini sculpture of an agave plant. Made from 100% blue agave, this Jalisco tequila is aged in oak barrels for two years and then slowly filtered through activated charcoal to give it a crystal-clear look with the rich, nutty, toasted flavor of añejo. They only produce 100 bottles a year, so consider it a beverage to be enjoyed slowly! Barrel-aged for six years and featuring notes of vanilla, nutmeg, white peppercorn, and cocoa nibs. "Tequila has come a very long way from its early harsh days and its blue collar palates," says Iñaki Orozco, who founded Riazul Tequila. Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. A proprietary filtration system transforms the dark amber color the liquid takes on after the aging process (after three-and-a-half years in American whiskey and French Bordeaux barrels) back to a clear liquid. But high end tequila can be sipped or mixed just like the rest of the best liquors. Ultra-Premium Ley .925 Pasion Azteca is one of the priciest top tequila companies. Patron kicked off the premium tequila movement, so it's no surprise that the brand is now offering one of the most expensive and aged extra añejos on the market. Unlike most tequilas, Gran Patron Piedra ("piedra" is Spanish for "stone") is produced using a very traditional process of using a stone wheel (called a "tahona") to slowly crush the agave. Enjoy this list of the best expensive tequila brands, ranked by your votes! But let's get serious: after a long day, you want the good stuff. More: Facts Every Tequila Aficionado Needs to Know. Instead of sipping this high-end tequila, Volfson recommends trying it in a margarita. The brand's Reposado Buffalo Trace was aged for 10-and-a-half months in barrels that previously held Buffalo Trace bourbon. This uncommon Extra Añejo made from pure Weber blue agave takes a cue from some of your other favorite nightcaps for a truly singular sipping experience. Though these brands offer moderately priced tequila, they also have more expensive lines. Herradura Seleccion Suprema Extra Añejo Tequila is made using agave harvested exclusively from the Casa Herradura estate.